Schefflera plant named ‘OSV001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Schefflera plant having solid green colored leaflets that is suitable for potted plant production.

Botanical classification: Schefflera arboricola.

Varietal denomination: ‘OSV001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Scheffleraplant having the varietal name of ‘OSV001’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 2015 in la Guacima, Costa Rica with the purposes ofproviding Schefflera plants with better color, greater stability, andbetter growing characteristics. The new variety was identified in acultivated production field as a naturally occurring mutation ofSchefflera variety named ‘Gold Capella’ (unpatented). The new varietyexhibits similar growth characteristics to ‘Gold Capella’, but differsfrom ‘Gold Capella’ in exhibiting solid green colored leaflets, while‘Gold Capella’ has variegated green and yellow-green colored leaflets.Asexual reproductions of the new variety by stem and tip cuttings firstoccurred in 2015 in Sint-Oedenrode, Netherlands. ‘OSV001’ has been trialand field tested and has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

When ‘OSV001’ is compared to Schefflera plant named ‘OSV002’ (U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 16/873,304), the varieties differ in leafletcolor (‘OSV002’ has variegated yellow-green and green colored leafletsand ‘OSV001’ has solid green colored leaflets), overall height (‘OSV002’is taller than ‘OSV001’), and number of leaves (‘OSV002’ has more leavesthan ‘OSV001’).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings taken at approximately 24 monthsof age illustrate the new variety, with the colors being as nearly trueas is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the foliage of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew variety at approximately 24 months of age. The data which definesthese characteristics was collected under natural light in August of2020 in Sint-Oedenrode, Netherlands. Plants of the new variety weregrown in 8.5 cm round pots in a conventional, cold-storage greenhouse inSint-Oedenrode, Netherlands. Color references are primarily to The 2015R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 6^(th)Edition, except where general color terms are used.

PLANT

-   Type: Perennial and evergreen, suitable for potted plant production.    -   -   Time to produce a finished plant from propagation.—About 6            months at 20° C.        -   Preferred container size.—8.5 cm or larger pots.        -   Overall plant shape.—Ovate to broadly ovate.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of foliar plant).—Average of            36.0 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—Average of 31.7 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate to high.        -   Branching habit.—Main stem grows from the base with no            lateral branching.        -   Basal branching.—Present.        -   Pinching required.—No, but can improve branching.        -   Specific disease/pest resistance.—Nothing unusual noted to            date.        -   USDA plant hardiness zones.—From Zone 10 to Zone 13.        -   Heat/cold tolerance.—Range not fully tested, but at least            hardy from +4° C. to 40° C.        -   Rain tolerance.—High.        -   Wind tolerance.—Moderate.-   Main stem:    -   -   Number.—Average of 1.        -   Length.—Average of 21.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average of 0.8 cm.        -   Internode length.—Average of 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Angle.—Average of 85° from horizontal.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Developing: Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A. Mature:            Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A. At internodes: Yellow-Green            Group RHS 146C.        -   Pubescence.—None present.        -   Lenticels.—Presence: On mature stems. Shape: Elliptic.            Length: Average of 1.0 mm. Diameter: Average of 0.5 mm.            Color: Greyed-Orange Group RHS 164B to 164C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and compound.        -   Number per plant.—Average of 8.        -   Number of leaflets per leaf.—Average of 8-40% of the leaves            have 9.        -   Whole leaf.—Shape: Orbicular. Aspect: Slightly concave.            Length: 14.3 cm. Width: 13.5 cm.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average of 15.7 cm. Diameter: Average of            3.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous (both sides). Luster:            Slightly glossy (both sides). Strength: Strong. Upper side            color: Green Group RHS 138B. Under side color: Yellow-Green            Group RHS 144B.        -   Leaflet.—Shape: Obovate. Length: Average of 6.2 cm. Width:            Average of 3.0 cm. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire, with none to very slightly coarsely undulate.            Sheathing: None. Lobing: None. Venation: Pinnate. Upper            surface: Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Pubescence: None.            Rugosity: None. Luster: Slightly glossy. Young color:            Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A. Mature color: In between Green            Group RHS NN137A and Yellow-Green Group RHS 147A, but            slightly darker and closest to RHS 147A. Venation color:            Green Group RHS 143B. Under surface: Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Pubescence: None. Rugosity: None. Luster: Matte.            Young color: Yellow-Green Group RHS 147C. Mature color: In            between Yellow-Green Group RHS 147B and 148B. Venation            color: Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A.        -   Petiolule.—Length: Average of 1.8 cm. Diameter: Average of            1.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous (both sides). Luster:            Slightly glossy (both sides). Strength: Strong. Upper side            color: Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A. Under side color:            Yellow-Green Group RHS 145B.-   Stipules/tendrils/thorns/prickles/flowers/seeds/fruit: None    observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Schefflera plant, as is hereinillustrated and described.